Plaintiffs Alison N. Leary and Timothy M. Leary (the “Named Plaintiffs”) filed a lawsuit against MEI on behalf of themselves and all others similarly situated. The lawsuit alleges that MEI violated the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act by including an illegal tying provision in a written warranty provided to Named Plaintiffs and Class Members. At issue is MEI’s LifeTime Engine Guarantee,which is a limited warranty that covers a vehicle’s engine from mechanical failure or abnormal wear so long as the purchaser owns the vehicle, provided that the purchaser properly maintains the vehicle in accordance with the warranty’s terms. Among other things, the LifeTime Engine Guarantee directs Named Plaintiffs and Class Members to have the oil changed professionally in their vehicle every four months or 4,000 miles, whichever comes first, using only Castrol oil products. Plaintiffs allege that they and all Class Members paid more for oil changes than they should have paid because Castrol oil may be more expensive than comparable oil products and that they should be allowed to change the oil not only with Castrol oil products, but with similar oil products, without voiding the warranty.

MEI denies each and every one of Plaintiffs’ allegations of unlawful conduct, any wrongdoing, and any liability whatsoever, and no court or other entity has made any judgment or other determination of any liability. MEI further denies that any Class Member is entitled to any relief and, other than for settlement purposes, and that this Action is appropriate for certification as a class action. MEI denies any wrongdoing and any liability whatsoever.

The issuance of this Notice is not an expression of the Court’s opinion on the merits or the lack of merits of the Named Plaintiffs’ claims in the Action.

In a class action lawsuit, one or more people called “Named Plaintiff(s)” (in this Action, Alison N. Leary and Timothy M. Leary) sue on behalf of other people who have similar claims. The court has determined that this Action is appropriate for class treatment for the purposes of settlement. For purposes of this proposed Settlement, one court will resolve the issues for all Class Members. The company sued in this case, MEI, is called the Defendant.

The Named Plaintiffs have made claims against MEI. MEI denies that it has done anything wrong or illegal and admits no liability. The Court has not decided that the Named Plaintiffs or MEI should win this Action. Instead, both sides agreed to a Settlement to limit further expense, inconvenience, and uncertainty. That way, they avoid the cost of a trial, and the Class Members will receive relief now rather than years from now, if at all.

The Court has decided that everyone who fits this description is a Class Member for purposes of the proposed Settlement: All consumers in the United States who, between May 5, 2013 and January 8, 2017, purchased a vehicle from Car Sense Inc. (now MEI) and accepted the LifeTime Engine Guarantee offered by Car Sense Inc.

If you are still not sure whether you are included, you can contact the Claims Administrator for free help about whether you are a Class Member. The email address of the Claims Administrator is learyvmcgowenenterprises@kccllc.com, the U.S. postal (mailing) address is Leary v. MEI c/o KCC Class Action Services, P.O. Box 404000, Louisville, KY 40233-4000 and the toll-free telephone number is 1-855-505-1412.

MEI has agreed to provide the Settlement Class a Settlement Payment of a one-time cash payment of $30. To receive a Settlement Payment, you must timely complete and submit a valid Claim Form, which explains the eligibility and any documentation requirements.In addition, regardless of whether a Class Member submits a claim form, all Class Members will receive the following benefits: MEI agrees that it will not include a tying provision in any future warranties, and that it will not void any Class Members’ LifeTime Engine Guarantee for failing to use Castrol products during oil changes of their vehicles purchased from MEI.

To qualify for a Settlement Payment, you must send in a Claim Form by the deadline. A Claim Form is available by clicking HERE.The Claim Form may be submitted electronically or by postal mail. Read the instructions carefully, fill out the form, attach documentation, and postmark it by July 2, 2018 or submit it online on or before 11:59 p.m. (Eastern) on July 2, 2018.

WHEN WILL I GET A SETTLEMEENT PAYMENT AND WHAT IS THE DEADLINE TO CASH THE CHECK FOR THE SETTLEMENT PAYMENT?

The Court will hold a hearing on October 2, 2018 at United States District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Courtroom 13-B, 601 Market Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19106 to decide whether to approve the Settlement. If the Court approves the Settlement, after that, there may be appeals. It’s always uncertain whether these appeals can be resolved, and resolving them can take time, perhaps more than a year. You can check on the progress of the case on this website dedicated to the Settlement. Please be patient. You will have one hundred eighty (180) days from the date of issuance to negotiate (i.e. cash) the check you receive for the Settlement Payment.

The Court has ordered that Mark Johnson with the law firm Schneider Wallace Cottrell Konecky Wotkyns LLP (“Class Counsel”) will represent the interests of all Class Members for the purpose of this Settlement. These fees and costs will be paid separately by MEI and will not reduce the amount of Settlement Payments available to qualifying Class Members. You will not be separately charged for Class Counsel’s services. If you want to be represented by your own lawyer, you may hire one at your own expense.

MEI has agreed to pay Class Counsel’s attorneys’ fees up to $280,000 and litigation costs up to $10,000, subject to approval by the Court. You will not be required to pay any attorneys’ fees or costs for Class Counsel’s attorneys’ fees and costs

WILL THE REPRESENTATIVE PLAINTIFFS RECEIVE ANY COMPENSATION FOR THEIR EFFORTS IN BRINGING THIS ACTION?

The Named Plaintiffs will request a service award (also known as an “incentive award”) of up to $5,000 total for Plaintiffs Alison N. Leary and Timothy M. Leary for their services as class representatives and their efforts in bringing the Action. The Court will make the final decision as to the amount to be paid to the Named Plaintiffs. MEI agrees to pay to the Named Plaintiffs the incentive award approved by the Court up to $5,000.

If the Court approves the Settlement, unless you exclude yourself from the Settlement, you will be releasing your claims against MEI. This generally means that you will not be able to file a lawsuit, continue prosecuting a lawsuit, or be part of any other lawsuit against MEI regarding the allegations in the Action. The Settlement Agreement, available on this website under the Court Documents tab, contains the full terms of the release.

You may exclude yourself from the Settlement Class and the Settlement. If you want to be excluded, you must send a letter or postcard stating: (a) the name and case number of the Action “Leary v. MEI, Case No. 17-cv-02070”; (b) your full name, address, and telephone number (email address optional); (c) a statement that you do not wish to participate in the Settlement; and (d) your signature, postmarked no later than July 2, 2018 to the Claims Administrator at: Leary v. MEI c/o KCC Class Action Services, P.O.Box 404000, Louisville, KY 40233-4000.

If you timely request exclusion from the Settlement Class, you will be excluded from the Settlement Class, you will not be bound by the judgment entered in the Action, and you will not be precluded from prosecuting any timely, individual claim against MEI based on the conduct complained of in the Action.

The Court will hold a Fairness Hearing on October 2, 2018 to determine if the Settlement is fair, reasonable, and adequate, and to also consider Class Counsel’s request for an award of attorneys’ fees and costs. If you wish to object to the fairness, reasonableness, or adequacy of the Settlement Agreement or the proposed Settlement, you must submit a written objection to the Claims Administrator at the address set forth below no later than (i.e., postmarked by) July 2, 2018.

Leary v. MEI

c/o KCC Class Action Services

P.O. Box 404000

Louisville, KY 40233-4000

The written objections must state: (a) the name and case number of the Action “Leary v. MEI, Case No. 17-cv-02070”; (b) the full name, address, and telephone number of the person objecting (email address optional); (c) the words “Notice of Objection” or “Formal Objection”; (d) in clear and concise terms, the objection and legal and factual arguments supporting the objection; and (e) facts showing that the person objecting is a Class Member. The written objection must be signed and dated, and must include the following language immediately above the signature and date: “I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the United States of America that the foregoing statements regarding class membership are true and correct to the best of my knowledge.” You may, but need not, submit your objection through counsel of your choice. If you do make your objection through an attorney, you will be responsible for your personal attorney’s fees and costs.

IF YOU DO NOT TIMELY MAKE YOUR OBJECTION, YOU WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE WAIVED ALL OBJECTIONS AND WILL NOT BE ENTITLED TO SPEAK AT THE FAIRNESS HEARING.

If you submit a written objection, you may appear at the Fairness Hearing, either in person or through personal counsel hired at your expense, to object to the Settlement Agreement. You are not required, however, to appear. If you, or your attorney, intend to make an appearance at the Fairness Hearing, you must include on your timely and valid written objection a statement substantially similar to “Notice of Intention to Appear.”If you intend to appear at the Fairness Hearing through counsel, you must also identify the attorney(s) representing you who will appear at the Fairness Hearing and include the attorney(s)name, address, and phone number (email address optional). Also, if you intend to request the Court to allow you to call witnesses at the Fairness Hearing, you must include that request in your written objection, which must list any such witnesses and summarize each witness’s expected testimony.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN EXCLUDING MYSELF AND OBJECTING TO THE SETTLEMENT?

Objecting is simply telling the Court that you don’t like something about the Settlement. You can object only if you stay in the Settlement Class. Excluding yourself is telling the Court that you don’t want to be part of the Settlement Class. If you exclude yourself, you have no basis to object because the Settlement no longer affects you.

On October 2, 2018 at 10;00 a.m., a hearing will be held on the fairness of the proposed Settlement. At the hearing, the Court will be available to hear any objections and arguments concerning the proposed Settlement’s fairness. The hearing will take place before the Honorable Berle M. Schiller in Courtroom 13-B (Room 13613) of the U.S. District Court for Eastern District of Pennsylvania, located at 601 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106. The hearing may be postponed to a different date or time or location without notice. Please check this website for any updates about the Settlement generally or the Fairness Hearing specifically. If the date or time of the Fairness Hearing changes, an update to the Settlement website will be the only way you will be informed of the change.

At that hearing, the Court will be available to hear any objections and arguments concerning the fairness of the Settlement. You may attend, but you do not have to. You may speak at the Fairness Hearing only if (a) you have timely served and filed an objection, and (b) you have timely and validly provided a Notice of Intent to Appear. If you have requested exclusion from the Settlement, however, you may not speak at the Fairness Hearing.

To see a copy of the Settlement Agreement, the Court’s Preliminary Approval Order, Class Counsel’s application for attorneys’ fees and costs, and the operative complaint filed in the Action, please visit the Case Documents tab on this website. Alternatively, you may contact the Claims Administrator at the email address:learyvmcgowenenterprises@kccllc.com, the U.S. postal address (mailing): Leary v. MEI c/o KCC Class Action Services, P.O. Box 404000, Louisville, KY 40233-4000, or the toll-free telephone number: 1-855-505-1412. This description of this Action is general and does not cover all of the issues and proceedings that have occurred. In order to see the complete file you should visit www.pacer.gov or the Clerk’s office at 601 Market Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19106 (215-597-7704). The Clerk will tell you how to obtain the file for inspection and copying at your own expense.